Shikhar Dhawan—cricket’s forever “Gabbar”—is back in the spotlight with his intimate February 21, 2026 wedding to longtime Irish girlfriend Sophie Shine. But as fans celebrate this fresh start, curiosity swirls around his past: Who was his first wife Aesha Mukerji, how did they meet and what went wrong in their marriage? The kickboxing mom who captured his heart via Facebook, shares son Zoravar with him. Their 11-year marriage ended in a bitter divorce in 2023 amid court drama. From Facebook sparks to courtroom splits, here’s the full story of Shikhar’s first love—and why it didn’t last.
Meet Aesha Mukerji: Kickboxer , mom, and cricket fan
Aesha Mukerji, an Anglo-Indian, was born in West Bengal and raised in Australia. Her dad’s Bengali roots mixed with her mum’s English heritage gave her a vibrant spirit. An avid sports lover, she is a fan of cricket and football, and a trained kickboxer. Before Shikhar, she was married to an Aussie businessman, with whom she has two daughters: Aliyah and Rhea. But marital rough patches led to her divorce.
Facebook sparks: How age-Gap love blossomed
Shikhar’s story with Aesha was pure rom-com. Scrolling Facebook one day, the cricketer spotted Aesha’s stunning pictures and got bowled. As per reports, he sent her a friend request which she accepted and the rest, as they say, is history. Their friendship soon blossomed into love, despite her being 10 years older than him. Also, she lived in Melbourne, while he lived in India. In October 2012, they had a fairytale wedding in Mumbai. An in 2014, they welcomed their son Zoravar.
Cracks appear in their marriage
By 2020, whispers of trouble in their long-distance marriage and “irreconcilable differences” started doing the rounds. Shikhar’s IPL tours clashed with Aesha’s life in Australia. And in 2023, the Delhi court granted Shikhar Dhawan a divorce on ground of cruelty and mental agony inflicted on him by Aesha, as per filings. Details stayed private, but pain surfaced later: Shikhar revealed Aesha blocked contact with him and so he is unable to connect with his son Zoravar.Now with Aesha’s chapter closed, Shikhar has found love again in Sophie Shine. Here’s wishing the newly wed couple years of happiness and togetherness!
